Prime time for smallies!

[Jon Navratil]

My favorite time of the year on the upper Miss is happening now or should I say it has been happening for the past month. Topwater smallies that is. Anything from buzz baits to poppers will take a batch of fish with a decent shot at a 19"+ fish. The time of the day doesn't really seem to matter. Stable water levels and improving water clarity are more important than time of the day, at least in my experience. I look for sand and gravel flats with small dips or depressions in the river to deflect the current. A good indication on whether you are in the right area is if you see surfacing fish. These fish will most likely chase just about anything you toss. As summer rolls along, the fish have a tendency to spread out across these areas actively feeding all day long. 

I usually have at least 4 rods along with different shapes and sizes of topwater presentations. If you get a swing and miss on one, go right back at that spot with something different even a weightless rigged tube, fluke or senko type plastic.

For the next month (or so) you will find me some where on the upper Mississippi river chasing my favorite species. 

[Randy Kaar]

please welcome Jon to the MNO family, he is our newest field staff
reporter. he will be reporting on the upper miss and some area
lakes. check out his website.
welcome to the MNO team Jon!

randy

[Woody]

Welcome aboard Jon!    

[Mayfly]

Weclome aboard!! Look forward to hearing more about that area.

Do you just guide in that area or do you guide other bodies of water as well??

[repoman]

welcome aboard jon 

[Spinach]

Great to have you here Jon.

[Jon Navratil]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I only guide on the river now Tim. Two years ago I hooked up with blazer jets out of Missouri and decided at that point I should focus on the river.

This past weekend the fish were on a tear for topwaters! Water clarity is decent and the fish are chasing anything that makes noise.

If you want to see the boat I am using for shallow water, go here:

It's an affordable river solution to prop boats.